Scripture: James 5:1-4
Pay attention, you wealthy people! Weep and moan over the miseries coming upon you. Your riches have rotted. Moths have destroyed your clothes. Your gold and silver have rusted, and their rust will be evidence against you. It will eat your flesh like fire. Consider the treasure you have hoarded in the last days. Listen! Hear the cries of the wages of your field hands. These are the wages you stole from those who harvested your fields. The cries of the harvesters have reached the ears of the Lord of heavenly forces.
Thought for the Day: I believe a lot of us in the Western World would point to a small group of wealthy people who are greedy and unjust in their practices, but never think of ourselves in those terms. In today’s world, 71% of the world’s population lives on $10/day or less, and 84% of folks live on $20/day or less. From the world perspective, people who make between $20 – $50/day are considered upper-middle class, but that is only $18,250/year. This means my family is among the top 7% of wage earners in the world who make more than $50/day. Those are a lot of numbers and statistics, but I name them for the simple reason that I cannot point to some group out there that is wealthy and needs to hear the words of James. These words confront me at the core of my selfish little heart that likes to think I am a very generous person for the money I have. Now don’t get all guilt-ridden as that is not my point. Instead, I want people to recognize how easy it is to assume that scripture is talking about someone else. “It sure isn’t me the author is talking about” or is it?
Prayer: I like the comfort that comes with my wealth, O Lord, even if I don’t consider myself wealthy. Challenge my living and life-style where they need to be challenged. Amen.
ONE SERVICE THIS SUNDAY – 10:30am
